The Man Who Wasn't There

Name: The Man Who Wasn't There
Genre: Drama, Crime
Released: October 31, 2001
Duration: 116 min
Rating: 73
Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Frances McDormand

2001

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 33 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 92 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 92 Ratings

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The Man Who Wasn't There

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Movie Details & Credits

USA Films | Release Date: October 31, 2001 | R

Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Frances McDormand

Summary: Set in 1949, this film from Joel and Ethan Coen is a tale of passion, crime and punishment, all presented in glorious black-and-white. (USA Films)

Director: Ethan Coen and Joel Coen

Genre(s): Drama, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 116 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Michael Wilmington

Like all the Coens' movies, "Man" is supremely self-aware and darkly, hellishly funny. It's also brilliantly written and acted to a fare-thee-well by an outrageously good cast. Read full review

100

Richard Schickel

If this were not such great American-vernacular moviemaking -- hilarious yet hypnotic -- one would be tempted to see something Greek in the tragedy that Ed never comprehends. Read full review

Desson Thomson

When you're in the hands of the Coen brothers, you're in for sheer originality. Read full review

David Edelstein

The film is marvelous fun on its own terms -- I laughed all the way through it. Read full review

Roger Ebert

So assured and perceptive in its style, so loving, so intensely right, that if you can receive on that frequency, the film is like a voluptuous feast. Read full review

Jonathan Foreman

Despite its visual brilliance, its all-round cleverness, and the way it demonstrates a profound understanding of genre, the Coen brothers' The Man Who Wasn't There doesn't quite come off. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

Ordinary moviegoers, on the other hand, may wonder what they're supposed to feel, apart from bored.

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User Reviews

Coenonly

Oct 24, 2018

I look at the performances in this film and try to imagine the vibe on the set. That's the world I want to live in.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

askewreviews

Jun 19, 2013

One of the Coen brothers' finest achievements; a modern tribute to the classic noir films of old, dripping in atmosphere and masterful cinematography. Billy Bob Thornton is fantastic, as is Frances McDormand and James Gandolfini gives a very charming and Tony Soprano-esque performance. TheOne of the Coen brothers' finest achievements; a modern tribute to the classic noir films of old, dripping in atmosphere and masterful cinematography. Billy Bob Thornton is fantastic, as is Frances McDormand and James Gandolfini gives a very charming and Tony Soprano-esque performance. The period detail is extremely authentic, the costumes, settings and props together creating a convincing and realistic recreation of America in the late 40's. A must-see.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JayH.

Oct 22, 2008

Beautifully made, great performances, outstanding black and white cinematography. Outstanding period detail, stylish and very engrossing throughout. Excellent direction.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

avatar16

Jun 1, 2012

Parfois, on ne sait pas trop Ã quoi s'attendre d'un film des frÃ¨res Coen, ces derniers lorgnant souvent vers quelque chose d'inclassable. On pourrait bien dire que The Barber fait partie de cette catÃ©gorie. En effet, je trouve que le film ne fait pasParfois, on ne sait pas trop Ã quoi s'attendre d'un film des frÃ¨res Coen, ces derniers lorgnant souvent vers quelque chose d'inclassable. On pourrait bien dire que The Barber fait partie de cette catÃ©gorie. En effet, je trouve que le film ne fait pas grand chose pour aider le spectateur Ã entrer dans son univers, avec des scÃ¨nes "bizarres" (sur les martiens!!), un manque de puissance dans les images... Et surtout, j'ai eu vraiment du mal Ã savoir s'il fallait regarder ce film avec sÃ©rieux ou bien avec un second degrÃ©. Bref, ce n'est pas superbement dÃ©finit... Par contre, et c'est lÃ que The Barber l'emporte, le casting est excellent (imposant Billy Bob Thornton), il y a une ambiance musicale hypnotique et surtout un noir et blanc de toute beautÃ©, qui nous permettent de ne pas dÃ©crocher une seule seconde malgrÃ© ce que j'ai dit prÃ©cÃ©demment. Bref, un film Ã voir pour se faire une idÃ©e !… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

FilipeNeto

Aug 23, 2018

In this film, a crime is committed by the most unsuspecting individual: the barber. I already knew the Coen brothers' taste for black humor, evident in "Fargo", which was their first movie I watched. In this film, the humorous and almost sarcastic tone is still present, although itsIn this film, a crime is committed by the most unsuspecting individual: the barber. I already knew the Coen brothers' taste for black humor, evident in "Fargo", which was their first movie I watched. In this film, the humorous and almost sarcastic tone is still present, although its sometimes subtle and mixed with social criticism. Ed wasn't the "man who was not there" because he was a barber, but because society never gave him importance or noticed his existence. His profession ends up becoming a symbol of this. The story is set in the 1950s, so it plays with the ideas and mentality of the time, especially the exaggerated belief in extraterrestrials, just as it makes little allusions to the cinematic aesthetics of that era (B movies, sci-fi, cinema noir). Cinematography helped a lot at this point, with an elegant black and white, balanced tones and nice contrast.

Regarding the actors, Billy Bob Thornton is to be congratulated because he has disengaged himself in this challenge with praises. Ed is one of a few people with few sayings and an unimpressive attitude, and the actor's performance, ranging from slightly funny to slightly scary, was very good, set in a gigantic physical and expressive self-control. On the opposite side is Michael Badalucco, in a histrionic and talkative character, where the actor was excellent. Frances McDormand was also fine, especially when she split the screen with Billy Bob, and James Gandolfini did what was expected of him. Scarlett Johansson did quite well in a character who is only innocent in appearance. Finally, a note of appreciation for the soundtrack, where classic works for piano are abundant.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Spangle

Jun 5, 2016

The Man Who Wasn't There did not live up to my personal expectations, but it is a solid neo-noir film from the Coen Brothers. Billy Bob Thornton and Frances McDormand do very well here, especially Thornton who perfectly plays the role as the subtle and quiet barber. As is typical of all ofThe Man Who Wasn't There did not live up to my personal expectations, but it is a solid neo-noir film from the Coen Brothers. Billy Bob Thornton and Frances McDormand do very well here, especially Thornton who perfectly plays the role as the subtle and quiet barber. As is typical of all of their films, The Man Who Wasn't There bears many trademarks of the Coens, both narratively through their use of witty and quirky humor at times. The cinematography from Roger Deakins is phenomenal and truly a wonder to behold at times. That said, the film never rises to the level of the Coens' typical works. Too slow and too distant, The Man Who Wasn't There never entertains to the level expected even if it is a technically brilliant film from beginning to end. I wanted to love this one, but it just felt too subtle and too lacking in substance to be a truly great film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

amheretojudge

Jul 3, 2018

the makers that weren't there for the audience..

The Man Who Wasn't There 2 Out Of 5 The Man Who Wasn't There is a plot driven feature that focuses a baffling mind of a dissatisfying middle aged man. The convoluted and over thought out monologues imbibes the essence from the soul of thethe makers that weren't there for the audience..

The Man Who Wasn't There

2 Out Of 5

The Man Who Wasn't There is a plot driven feature that focuses a baffling mind of a dissatisfying middle aged man. The convoluted and over thought out monologues imbibes the essence from the soul of the feature and turns it into a repetitive slog which seems on loop for around 2 hours. It is short on technical aspects like background score, costume design, sound department, production design and editing although the cinematography; like the first thing the protagonist notes about a person is the hair for he is a barber, and the sound effects are amazing. The screenplay by the Coen brothers, isn't smart or ground breaking as it may seem for the characters are chewed off way too much for the audience to savor it and addition to that, the scrutiny isn't as convoluted as they think, it's just merely spread out into scattered bits and pieces which despite of being bound well enough, barely moves the muscle in the bigger picture. Joel Coen; the director, seems distracted and blurred out of the vision that he has aspired to set as it never attains a singularity on the terms and laws residing in his self-created bubble. The Man Who Wasn't There actually seems like the makers that weren't there for the audience as the feel disconnected throughout the course of it.… Expand

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